Yesterday was my regular day off and the only day that Florence and I have off together normally. It was a gorgeous day, as you know, and I was sitting outside drinking a coffee in the early morning sun listening to the crows. We have a family of crows who live in the trees out across from our front door and they are noisy creatures, especially these days because they have babies. Florence calls them ‘big babies’ because they are so big that it is difficult to tell the difference between them and the parent birds, except they are the ones that squawk continually to be fed. It all has the appearance of being, in a word – ridiculous.
But it got me thinking about how sometimes the same thing can happen to people. Adults living with their parents isn’t new but there has been a change. It used to be that young adults stayed home to work the farm. Now, many stay home to avoid having to work. It used to be that young people might choose to stay home out of a sense of responsibility for their parents, or other family members. Now, a lot of the time, they stay home just to avoid taking responsibility for their own lives.
I am reminded of a statement that Paul made to the Corinthians:
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.”
1Cor 16:13 NIV
But it is actually the more literal translation that I was thinking of:
“Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”
1Cor 16:13 NASB
Maturity is the issue. I remember well growing up, how we were forced to work. This is not one of those “had to walk to and from school uphill both ways” kind of stories either. We played plenty, but it was often only after the work was done, almost as a reward for the work done; which is an important concept – work before play. Whether it was a long row of garden to be weeded, or a woodpile to be carried, or a sink full of dishes to be washed, it had to be done. And we often squawked, not unlike those crows I can hear even now, but we did it. And now, of course, I am thankful that my parents trained us in how essential it is to learn to ‘carry our weight'.
I heard pastor and author Erwin McManus worry aloud one time how he fears that we may be raising a generation of ‘takers’. Not only would this be disastrous for them, and detrimental for society, it is also clearly in opposition to the way of life taught in the Scriptures.
“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”
1Thess 4:11,12
“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”
2Thess 3:6-10
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Bearing With Bad Behaviour
Two major events that happened last week have me thinking about bad behaviour, and they both occurred the same night. One, is the rioting that occurred after game 7 in Vancouver. The other is the bear that decided around the same time to invade our back porch. He didn’t climb right in for which I am thankful. He seems to have been satisfied to destroy the rain-shield and rip out the screen so that he could then lick out the drip tray on the back of the BBQ.
The bear was smart enough not to get his picture taken. Though he left his paw prints in the garden and his sign around the corner, there isn’t a single photo that can be used to identify him. In Vancouver on the other hand, there seems to have been no such discretion shown.
So what are we to think when people act like animals? It scandalizes us doesn’t it. When animals act like animals we don’t think much of it because that is what they are. But when rational human beings, created in God’s image, act like animals, it genuinely shocks us as is evident from the media attention and social firestorm that has resulted.
It seems that the people who perpetrated the violence are themselves even shocked by it. Seventeen year old Nathan Kotylak of Maple Ridge, B.C, a member of Canada’s junior water polo team with Olympic aspirations and plans to enter the University of Calgary this fall on an athletic scholarship was one of the rioters. Now all those plans and aspirations may be gone. His explanation for it? He got “caught up in the moment".
The New Testament authors speak of those who behave like animals. Peter speaks of those who are like ‘brute beasts’ who “follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority”. Jude talks about people being like ‘unreasoning animals’ as well. And it is likely indicative that the book of Revelation uses the term ‘the beast’ in reference associated with the anti-Christ.
But before we get too carried away with our condemnation of these people, we need to exercise some real moral restraint and have some sober thought about our own hearts. The psalmist confessed that there were times when he himself had been a ‘brute beast’ before God, ‘senseless and ignorant’ (Psalm 73:22). The truth of the matter is that all of us have the potential and the tendency to behave in ways that are despicable and quite beneath the dignity for which we were created.
While it is right and appropriate to allow the law to follow its course and see those who violated the peace, destroyed public property and caused injuries to others in Vancouver, to be prosecuted and the due penalties levied and endured, let’s be really careful that we don’t distance ourselves from their behaviour in such a way as to suggest that any of us isn’t capable of making the same mistakes given the right set of circumstances. To quote the book of proverbs in conjunction with the apostle Paul, “Pride comes before the fall … So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”
PS. We are not evolving.
The bear was smart enough not to get his picture taken. Though he left his paw prints in the garden and his sign around the corner, there isn’t a single photo that can be used to identify him. In Vancouver on the other hand, there seems to have been no such discretion shown.
So what are we to think when people act like animals? It scandalizes us doesn’t it. When animals act like animals we don’t think much of it because that is what they are. But when rational human beings, created in God’s image, act like animals, it genuinely shocks us as is evident from the media attention and social firestorm that has resulted.
It seems that the people who perpetrated the violence are themselves even shocked by it. Seventeen year old Nathan Kotylak of Maple Ridge, B.C, a member of Canada’s junior water polo team with Olympic aspirations and plans to enter the University of Calgary this fall on an athletic scholarship was one of the rioters. Now all those plans and aspirations may be gone. His explanation for it? He got “caught up in the moment".
The New Testament authors speak of those who behave like animals. Peter speaks of those who are like ‘brute beasts’ who “follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority”. Jude talks about people being like ‘unreasoning animals’ as well. And it is likely indicative that the book of Revelation uses the term ‘the beast’ in reference associated with the anti-Christ.
But before we get too carried away with our condemnation of these people, we need to exercise some real moral restraint and have some sober thought about our own hearts. The psalmist confessed that there were times when he himself had been a ‘brute beast’ before God, ‘senseless and ignorant’ (Psalm 73:22). The truth of the matter is that all of us have the potential and the tendency to behave in ways that are despicable and quite beneath the dignity for which we were created.
While it is right and appropriate to allow the law to follow its course and see those who violated the peace, destroyed public property and caused injuries to others in Vancouver, to be prosecuted and the due penalties levied and endured, let’s be really careful that we don’t distance ourselves from their behaviour in such a way as to suggest that any of us isn’t capable of making the same mistakes given the right set of circumstances. To quote the book of proverbs in conjunction with the apostle Paul, “Pride comes before the fall … So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”
PS. We are not evolving.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Global Gospel
A ministry called ‘9 Marks’ conducted a ‘roundtable’ of pastors and theologians asking them two big questions and then posted the responses online.
The response of one Mack Stiles is especially interesting. Mack is an author and businessman living and working in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and before I show you his two answers, here are the two questions they posed to the 9 men of varying stations and locations from all over the world.
Question 1: You are standing on stage before 100,000 people from every nation on earth and asked to share the gospel in 100 words or less. What would you say?
Question 2: You are standing before a small crowd from your church's neighborhood and asked to share the gospel in 100 words or less. What would you say? [Authors were asked to include a couple of words describing their neighborhood.]
And here is how Mack Stiles responded:
(1) Maybe you don’t know, but there is a heavenly dilemma over you. You are loved as God’s special creation. But because God is also holy you are cut off from him by your wickedness and under his judgment. The Bible tells of God’s one solution: Jesus, fully God and fully sinless man, ransomed us to God through his death on the cross. He paid our sin-debt and rose from the dead as proof that he is the way and the truth. Eliminate the dilemma! Turn from sin; follow Jesus by putting your complete faith and trust in him.
(2) Allah commands you to read the Injil. But what does it say? It says salvation comes from Allah’s love, not Allah’s rules! It says the straight path to Allah is faith in the Jesus of the Injil. The Injil gives only one path: Jesus, fully God – fully man and perfect, ransomed us to God through his death on the cross. He paid our sin-debt. He rose from the dead as proof that he is the path to heaven. Does Allah’s strength not protect his word? The Injil says repent; follow Jesus; put your complete faith and trust in him.
They also posted the following note:
[Editor's note: in further conversation with Mr. Stiles, he said he often will use this story with unbelievers (which he says is not original to him): Two men went to the mosque to pray. One was a rich man, the other a poor man. The rich man went through his libations and prayers as he did five times a day. As he was praying, he began to have a sexual fantasy about the young wife who lived next door to his home. But he finished his prayers and went home. The poor man stood off at a distance. He came so infrequently to the mosque, that he couldn't remember the positions for prayer or his libations. But he looked up to heaven, beat his breast, and said, "Forgive me, O Lord, for I'm a sinner." Who went home justified? Mr. Stiles says that every Muslim he has asked this question has answered "The rich man."]
For any of you keeners interested in the other 8 responses, here is the link: Explaining The Gospel
The response of one Mack Stiles is especially interesting. Mack is an author and businessman living and working in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and before I show you his two answers, here are the two questions they posed to the 9 men of varying stations and locations from all over the world.
Question 1: You are standing on stage before 100,000 people from every nation on earth and asked to share the gospel in 100 words or less. What would you say?
Question 2: You are standing before a small crowd from your church's neighborhood and asked to share the gospel in 100 words or less. What would you say? [Authors were asked to include a couple of words describing their neighborhood.]
And here is how Mack Stiles responded:
(1) Maybe you don’t know, but there is a heavenly dilemma over you. You are loved as God’s special creation. But because God is also holy you are cut off from him by your wickedness and under his judgment. The Bible tells of God’s one solution: Jesus, fully God and fully sinless man, ransomed us to God through his death on the cross. He paid our sin-debt and rose from the dead as proof that he is the way and the truth. Eliminate the dilemma! Turn from sin; follow Jesus by putting your complete faith and trust in him.
(2) Allah commands you to read the Injil. But what does it say? It says salvation comes from Allah’s love, not Allah’s rules! It says the straight path to Allah is faith in the Jesus of the Injil. The Injil gives only one path: Jesus, fully God – fully man and perfect, ransomed us to God through his death on the cross. He paid our sin-debt. He rose from the dead as proof that he is the path to heaven. Does Allah’s strength not protect his word? The Injil says repent; follow Jesus; put your complete faith and trust in him.
They also posted the following note:
[Editor's note: in further conversation with Mr. Stiles, he said he often will use this story with unbelievers (which he says is not original to him): Two men went to the mosque to pray. One was a rich man, the other a poor man. The rich man went through his libations and prayers as he did five times a day. As he was praying, he began to have a sexual fantasy about the young wife who lived next door to his home. But he finished his prayers and went home. The poor man stood off at a distance. He came so infrequently to the mosque, that he couldn't remember the positions for prayer or his libations. But he looked up to heaven, beat his breast, and said, "Forgive me, O Lord, for I'm a sinner." Who went home justified? Mr. Stiles says that every Muslim he has asked this question has answered "The rich man."]
For any of you keeners interested in the other 8 responses, here is the link: Explaining The Gospel
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Hockey History & Geography
I’m conflicted. Again!
Boston … Vancouver …
I know that not everyone is a hockey fan. I myself watch almost no hockey in the regular season. I enjoy a good game but find it hard to carve out the time really. But when things ramp up during the play-offs, and especially in the finals, I tend to tune in a little more.
Personally, I have never been a Boston fan. However, I have never been a Vancouver fan either. It’s been a long time since a ‘Canadian team’ has won the cup, but there are a lot of Canadians playing for Boston and some very significant players on the Vancouver team that aren’t Canadians. So what does it mean anyway when we refer to a team as being ‘Canadian’, right?!
The sentiment being expressed by most Vancouverites seems to be that they don’t want to be Canada’s team anyway. So to cheer for the Canucks simply because Vancouver is in Canada might be kind of like calling someone your girlfriend even though she wouldn’t give you the time of day! A little more than presumptuous wouldn’t you think.
Boston is part of the original six and that has some tug for all of us nostalgic types, unless you’re a Montreal fan and then you just hate Boston as a matter of principle! But there is also the fact that the Maritimes has had a strong relationship with the New England States that predates confederation. Geographically, there has been a stronger relationship between here and Boston than here and Vancouver. Does everything have to come down to politics? I suspect that many of us have as many relatives (or more?) in Boston as we do in Vancouver. And what about this? In 1917 when the SS Mont-Blanc, a French cargo ship, fully loaded with wartime explosives accidentally collided with the Norwegian SS Imo in the Halifax Harbour creating the world's largest man-made accidental explosion (still to this day) killing 2000 and injuring another 9000 and leaving almost the entire city of Halifax in ruins, a train load of supplies and personnel left from Boston for Halifax that same day beginning a relief effort still recognized as Nova Scotia annually sends a giant Christmas tree to Boston as a thank you.
And now, after the bad hit on Nathan Horton by Aaron Rome in Monday nights game, Boston definitely gets the sympathy vote I’d say.
So, what are we to make of all this? Who should I cheer for? I find it kind of hard to watch a game and not know who to root for. When someone scores I don’t know what to do! What it kind of does though is force me to just enjoy the quality of the game. And so, I’m deciding not to be conflicted anymore. I’m just going to enjoy the hockey and, as they say, may the best team win.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Nannies Needed
Last week the news reported on an announcement made by Capital Health, which runs the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, along with 9 other hospitals in the province. Starting in October of this year, the Tim Horton’s shops operating within those hospitals will stop serving doughnuts and non-low-fat muffins.
Now, this is such an incredible no-brainer that all of the intelligent people in the world are only wondering why it takes so painfully long to make such obviously simple decisions! Why, we ask, would a facility intended for the sole purpose of keeping people as healthy as possible even consider serving food that is so unhealthy anyway when there are good healthy alternatives?
However, as painfully obvious as this is to anyone who has an IQ, the buzz on the street shows the usual ‘I want my own way even if it kills me’ kind of attitude that permeates our society.
One of the local online papers that I checked received 11 comments on the article they ran on the announcement. When I clicked to see the comments I found that six of them had been removed by the staff because they contained ‘material which was deemed inappropriate’ (enough said) or because they were posted by people who had been ‘blocked by our staff’ (same thing).
Here are the 5 comments that did get posted:
“Capital Health couldn't care less about our health. There's something else here, or else they're bored and just playing power games. Just wait---coffee will be next. All that caffeine is soooo bad for you right?” (Total cynicism devoid of any rationale)
“I think it is a case of the hospital’s food service can't compete with Timmy's good food.” (Obviously posted by an insane person)
“What a shame this is. There are people in the hospital that will never see the outside again. If these patients want a treat, let them eat a donut. Let people decide on their own.” (Yeah, that is certainly my last wish for life in this world – a chocolate éclair! Are the patients dying in our hospitals really that incredibly concerned about sugar!)
“This is ridiculous! I guess we cannot think for ourselves, on what we want to eat! This will definitely affect Tim Horton's bottom line! Don't be surprised if they close up shop!” (Ridiculous is a better word for this comment than for the announcement. I can just see Tim Horton’s wringing their hands in fear of losing their market! The ‘think for ourselves’ comment I will address in a moment.)
“Are people aware that doctors own the Tim’s at the General?”
(And the point would be???)
The TV news, of course, took their cameras to the street and got many of the same kind of responses. One guy I saw interviewed said, “People should have the choice, if they want to eat unhealthy then they should be able to make that choice.”
Now, I’m all for people having the right to choose how they live their lives so long as it doesn’t interfere unduly with the rest of us living ours. I believe very strongly in that freedom. However, this is a hospital for crying out loud! We’re talking here about a hospital!!!
One last comment – someone was heard to have said that this is yet one more example of how Canada is becoming a ‘nanny state’. And my response to that? When I observe what appears to be almost a complete lack of maturity on the part of so many adults in our society, I can only wish we had more nannies; maybe a whole nation of nannies!
And we’re not just talking about doughnuts here folks! Our society is running headlong towards a cliff. There is no restraint, little discipline, no wisdom and very little common sense left. As a society we will watch anything, put anything in our mouths, spend money we don’t have on anything and everything we don’t need and pile up debt we can’t repay. We throw our garbage out of our car windows and we are quite happy to let someone else worry about fixing any problems that result from our own self indulgence and get highly upset if it doesn’t happen fast enough. We fail to save, we fail to give and we want it all and we want it now. Does that not sound like a bunch of little children? I know full well, and so do you, that the reason Tim Horton’s stocks its shelves with so much that is so bad for us is simply because that is what people generally choose to eat. And that is the real problem. Where have all the nannies gone? If we could only get people to grow up and stop whining over a doughnut!
Now, this is such an incredible no-brainer that all of the intelligent people in the world are only wondering why it takes so painfully long to make such obviously simple decisions! Why, we ask, would a facility intended for the sole purpose of keeping people as healthy as possible even consider serving food that is so unhealthy anyway when there are good healthy alternatives?
However, as painfully obvious as this is to anyone who has an IQ, the buzz on the street shows the usual ‘I want my own way even if it kills me’ kind of attitude that permeates our society.
One of the local online papers that I checked received 11 comments on the article they ran on the announcement. When I clicked to see the comments I found that six of them had been removed by the staff because they contained ‘material which was deemed inappropriate’ (enough said) or because they were posted by people who had been ‘blocked by our staff’ (same thing).
Here are the 5 comments that did get posted:
“Capital Health couldn't care less about our health. There's something else here, or else they're bored and just playing power games. Just wait---coffee will be next. All that caffeine is soooo bad for you right?” (Total cynicism devoid of any rationale)
“I think it is a case of the hospital’s food service can't compete with Timmy's good food.” (Obviously posted by an insane person)
“What a shame this is. There are people in the hospital that will never see the outside again. If these patients want a treat, let them eat a donut. Let people decide on their own.” (Yeah, that is certainly my last wish for life in this world – a chocolate éclair! Are the patients dying in our hospitals really that incredibly concerned about sugar!)
“This is ridiculous! I guess we cannot think for ourselves, on what we want to eat! This will definitely affect Tim Horton's bottom line! Don't be surprised if they close up shop!” (Ridiculous is a better word for this comment than for the announcement. I can just see Tim Horton’s wringing their hands in fear of losing their market! The ‘think for ourselves’ comment I will address in a moment.)
“Are people aware that doctors own the Tim’s at the General?”
(And the point would be???)
The TV news, of course, took their cameras to the street and got many of the same kind of responses. One guy I saw interviewed said, “People should have the choice, if they want to eat unhealthy then they should be able to make that choice.”
Now, I’m all for people having the right to choose how they live their lives so long as it doesn’t interfere unduly with the rest of us living ours. I believe very strongly in that freedom. However, this is a hospital for crying out loud! We’re talking here about a hospital!!!
One last comment – someone was heard to have said that this is yet one more example of how Canada is becoming a ‘nanny state’. And my response to that? When I observe what appears to be almost a complete lack of maturity on the part of so many adults in our society, I can only wish we had more nannies; maybe a whole nation of nannies!
And we’re not just talking about doughnuts here folks! Our society is running headlong towards a cliff. There is no restraint, little discipline, no wisdom and very little common sense left. As a society we will watch anything, put anything in our mouths, spend money we don’t have on anything and everything we don’t need and pile up debt we can’t repay. We throw our garbage out of our car windows and we are quite happy to let someone else worry about fixing any problems that result from our own self indulgence and get highly upset if it doesn’t happen fast enough. We fail to save, we fail to give and we want it all and we want it now. Does that not sound like a bunch of little children? I know full well, and so do you, that the reason Tim Horton’s stocks its shelves with so much that is so bad for us is simply because that is what people generally choose to eat. And that is the real problem. Where have all the nannies gone? If we could only get people to grow up and stop whining over a doughnut!
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